Chilmark: Turkey love

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To quote Matt Pelikan our MV Times naturalist, “Birds do it.” — Valerie Sonnenthal

One morning turning the bend at 6:40 am, turkeys crossing the road, while the mister stood upon a mistress, no distress, just life by Beetlebung Corner pond. I went for a sunrise walk with Alison Ostreicher and her Australian Shepard Sen. She’d found another ancient shark’s tooth, aged like fine ivory. My neighbor’s daughter Charlotte arrived home from school to name all the lambs born so far, with 18 more due any day at Beetlebung Farm. Despite snow, rain, clouds, and cold, spring keeps sticking out her tongue at us, while snowdrops droop and crocuses pop their purple heads up. Bright pansies smile from the roadside planter boxes at the Crossroads farmstand. Keep looking and signs of spring will greet your everyday.

Patriot’s Day, a state holiday, is on Monday, April 16. Also spring break for our schools begins on Friday, April 13, after 3 pm through Friday, April 20. Mark your calendars for the 41st Women’s Symposium on Saturday, April 28, 9 am to noon, on the topic of “Assumptions.”

Michele Dupon from Meals on Wheels will answer all your questions on Sunday, April 15, at 11:30 am, following morning service at the Federated Church Meetinghouse, 45 South Summer St., Edgartown. Come with questions, and enjoy hot coffee. For more information call 508-627- 4421 or email admin@federatedchurchmv.org.

Town Meeting (April 23 at 7:30 pm) and Election Day are coming, if you need to get an absentee ballot, you can do so up until noon the day before the April 25 election, fill it out in the office or have it mailed to you by contacting Town Clerk Jennifer Christy at townclerk@chilmarkma.gov or 508-645-2107.

Tuesday Pizza Nights continue at the Chilmark Community Church from 6 to 7 pm; enjoy free food, conversation, and community. All are welcome. 9 Menemsha Crossroads, Chilmark.

Register for Children’s Glow Yoga with One Love Yoga instructor Emily at the Chilmark library on Saturday, April 14 at 3:30 pm for yoga, creative movement, and dance that incorporates music, mindfulness, and art, and of course, glow sticks. For children ages 4-8, call or stop by the front desk to register. Wednesday, April 11, is the first of a two-class free Poetry Drop-In Workshop for adults hosted by local poet Donald Nitchie, presenting poems by a range of contemporary poets, followed by a short discussion and then a group free-write loosely based on the poem’s content or form. Students are encouraged to share their work with the group if interested. Local poets Nan Byrne, Jill Jupen, and Donald Nitchie will give a poetry reading on Wednesday, April 18, at 5 pm. Storytimes with Rizwan continue on Tuesday and Saturdays at 10:30 am. April School Break activities start Wednesday, April 18, Open Video Gaming from 10:30 am to 4:30pm — Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Brothers Wii-U, and Nintendo Land. On Thursday, April 19, Open Board Gaming in the meeting room and Lego Free Build in the children’s room. For info or questions, call 508-645-3360 or email chil_mail@clamsnet.org.

Stop by Pathways on Thursday, April 12, to listen to Jenny Allen, Holly Nadler, and Julia Kidd share new writing, followed by a community read. Programs continue through April from 7 to 9 pm; doors open at 6:30 pm. On Friday, April 13, enjoy an evening of stringed instruments other than guitar with TimoNanda Elliott, Nancy Jephcote, Josh Campbell, Paul Thurlow, Bruce MacNelly, Andy Herr, David Stanwood, Milo Silva, and special guests. On Tuesday, April 17, the Peter H. Luce Play Readers return with Nora and Delia Ephron’s “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” featuring Elaine Eugster, Charlena Seymour, Connie McCreary, Nancy Shaw-Cramer, Linda Comstock, Sofia Anthony, Roberta Hurtig, Kathy Hochberg and Cynthia Wolfson, directed by Myra Stark. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and programs begin at 7 pm, free. On Thursday, April 19, Bob Maclean hosts a screening of “Chasing Coral,” a documentary about our vanishing reefs. Come to Pathways Arts on Mondays and join Rebecca Gilbert for knitting from 1 to 3 pm, and from 5:30 to 6:30 pm learn T’ai Chi Ch’uan Yang long form and Chi Kung with Yang Chang Fu, suitable for all ages and family groups. You can stop by every day but Wednesdays and Sundays and find a warm environment to work in; Wi-Fi and computer available. Learn more at pathwaysmv.org.

Island Grown Farm Hub director Matt Dix (of North Tabor Farm) is teaching a mushroom-growing workshop on Saturday, April 14, where you will learn to inoculate and take home logs. There’s a material fee of $25, and preregistration is required; either call 508-687-9062 or email office@igimv.org. Class at Farm Hub, 80 Stoney Hill Road in Tisbury. Volunteers needed to help sell wholesale-price vegetables in neighborhoods with low food access on IGI’s Mobile Market this summer; please email sophie@igimv.org.

Head to the West Tisbury library on Sunday, April 15, at 3 pm for Death Café, hosted by Cape Cod Death Café co-founder Heather Massey, to share a respectful, thought-provoking, and life-affirming conversation on the topics of death, dying, and bereavement. Guest speaker Joan Lederman will discuss how community can create unique ceremonies and artifacts for keeping memories alive as family stories continue into future generations.

There are lots of break-week activities all over the Island, so check the events listings.

For those traveling or enjoying a staycation, have a great week, and everyone else too.